How to Join a Union?
Your freedom to join a Union is guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as by provincial Labour Relations Codes. If you work in federally regulated sectors such as communications and transportation, the Canadian Labour Standards Code applies. The legal agency that administers these laws is called the Labour Relations Board (‘the Board’).
Contact COPE
We recommend the first thing you do is contact a COPE 397 Organizer for assistance. We have full-time staff dedicated to assisting you and your co-workers. We can offer confidential advice and support on how to proceed.
Form a Team
After speaking with us, talk with some of your trusted co-workers. What do they want to see changed in the workplace? What would make your working conditions better? Are there company practices that aren’t fair? Are complaints being treated seriously? Is it a respectful work environment? Does everything feel safe?
If you find that there are common issues that you and your co-workers would like to see addressed, it might be time to build a ‘Union Organizing Committee.’ Ideally, this team should include someone from each department and/or shifts. The Organizing Committee will learn what is legislated in their province to become certified and work to educate their co-workers.
Build a Majority
After identifying issues and establishing your team, it is time to start talking more openly. To build a majority, you and the team will ask your co-workers to sign union cards to demonstrate their support. Union cards are important because when enough cards are signed you can apply to the Labour Relations Board to be officially certified as a union.
Win the Vote
Your provincial Labour Board legally recognizes, or ‘certifies,’ unions. There are two ways Labour Boards in Canada recognize unions:
- Vote: a secret ballot shows that most employees want a union.
- Card Count: a certain number of cards get signed showing support for a union.
Negotiate a Contract
Once you have formed your union and it has been officially certified by the Labour Board, you and your co-workers can get ready to negotiate your first contract, also called a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This means that all of the ideas you and your team collected on how your workplace could be better can finally happen.
Contact Us.
If you’re ready to start the process of unionizing, or if you have any questions about it, contact one of our organizers, below. We are here, and would love to help!
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